World's largest carrier China Mobile starts selling Apple’s iPhone today, but subsidies are not very high

China Mobile, the world’s largest carrier with a subscriber base of over 760 million, has officially started selling the iPhone today, but the subsidies are not as high as you might have thought. China Mobile and Apple have gone through hard and long negotiations to arrive at the deal, and the carrier admits that its pricing is not as low as on other Chinese operators, but is nonetheless justified because of China Mobile’s growing 4G TD/LTE network.

China Mobile is the first carrier to start offering the new high-speed LTE service in the world’s most populous country. Coverage is limited to just a few big metros at the moment - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, but is expected to grow to some 340 cities by the end of this year. The iPhone 5s, of course, supports the carrier’s 4G frequencies.

China Mobile is selling the 16GB iPhone 5s for free only with a two-year plan with a hefty ¥588 ($97) monthly fee. A more reasonable ¥188 ($31) monthly two-year plan would require customers to pay ¥3,788 ($625) for the latest iPhone, and without a contract the iPhone 5s goes for ¥5,288 ($873).

In comparison, the iPhone 5s is free with a cheaper ¥386 per month ($63) contract on China Unicom, but the agreement is for a longer, 30-month period of time.

The high price is not stopping early adopters, and estimates are that more than 1.2 million people showed interest by placing a reservation for the iPhone 5s on China Mobile. Some 42 million of the 760 million total carrier subscribers are said to already be using the iPhone even despite the fact that it’s never been officially offered before on China Mobile.

Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook, has flown to China himself for the launch and even signed 10 iPhones for customers. China Mobile’s chairman, Xi Guohua, also shared his excitement for the launch, saying the partnership with Apple is broader than just the iPhone.

The best-selling phone in the world "isn't the best for majority of the world sales wise" is the exact argument you shouldn't be making. Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone aren't phones, they are brands. The iPhone 5S is a phone, and it's currently trouncing the competition.

Thanx g2g, notice he didn't reply? His comment was insanely stupid. I'll never be a close minded, one sided fanboy. All these devices rock if you ask me, apple and Samsung just happen to be my favs. +1

I knew I would find you here!!! Jediii I just don't understand your obsession with this iPhone. I still prefer by miles my Note2 to my iPhone 5. Ease of use as a business man even app wise I prefer the playstore..........just my 2cents ......not to start a war.......

Bill Gates has done this for every major Microsoft launch that I can remember. He has sold the first XBOX everytime since the original launched in 2001, juat to name a few instances. So don't beat your Apple drum and make it out to be something it's not.

I'll mail you $50 if you can get nearly $500 from your used iPhone 5 on ebay. Your sentimental attachment to your subpar phone has nothing to do with the actual value of it. Now if you threw in some hipster shades, vans, and skinny jeans you might be able to pull that off. But just to be safe you may want to throw in that drum your beating too.

Please!!!! I purposely bought an iPhone and seriously I don't see what is so great about the phone!!!! There is just no wow factor!!! So please spare us your B.S. rant and come dine with the real boyz the big boys I mean. I just love my note 2. Already eyeing the 3 which is even better than my 2.

Are you talking to yourself...... ? Calling others Troll, when you are the classic Troll who causes flame wars and then backs out.
Act your age. You are not a young guy, old guy.
Get a life. We are true Americans, not coloured ones immigrants.
Americans pride this.

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